5g system (5gs) failure detection monitoring of proxy - call session control function (p-cscf) of an internet protocol (ip) multimedia system (ims) for efficient restoration of ims service

Abstract

Techniques and mechanisms for Fifth Generation (5G) system (5GS) failure detection monitoring of an application or control function in a network for efficient restoration of service are described. The network may be an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, and the voice or data service may be an IMS service that utilizes Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling. The application or control function may be a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) of the IMS network. In some implementations, the procedure may involve a session management function (SMF) programming of a user plane function (UPF) for UPF monitoring of the P-CSCF, using a ping procedure or health check procedure (e.g. for 3GPP Pre-Release 16). In other implementations, the procedure may involve the SMF monitoring of a P-CSCF via a Network Function (NF) Repository Function (NRF) (e.g. for 3GPP Release 16).

1 . A method comprising:
 at a session management function (SMF) for use in a mobile network that maintains access to stored information for a plurality of selected application or control functions, including stored associations between a plurality of address information of the plurality of selected application or control functions and a plurality of capability indications associated with the plurality of selected application or control functions,
 obtaining a capability indication associated with address information of an application or control function which is stored at the SMF; 
 if the capability indication indicates a first type of capability, invoking a first type of failure detection monitoring procedure for a given one of the plurality of selected application or control functions based on a respective one of the plurality of capability indications; and 
 if the capability indication indicates a second type of capability, invoking a second type of failure detection monitoring procedure for a given one of the plurality of selected application or control functions based on a respective one of the plurality of capability indications. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of selected application or control functions comprise a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure is for use in the mobile network which interconnects to the IMS network via a Service-Based Interface (SBI) having an enhanced Service-Based Architecture (eSBA) support. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second type of failure detection monitoring procedure is for use in the mobile network which interconnects to the IMS network via a Diameter receive interface or an Service-Based Interface (SBI) without enhanced Service-Based Architecture (eSBA) support. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selected application or control functions include a first application or control function and a second application or control function, and the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure is invoked for monitoring the first application or control function of a first network associated with first address information which is stored at the SMF. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein for the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure, further comprising:
 receiving, at the SMF, a message comprising a notification or response which indicates a failure of the first application or control function of the first network; and   based on receiving the message comprising the notification or response which indicates the failure, initiating a first address list update procedure for a reselection of a first new application or control function.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein invoking the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure comprises subscribing to notifications based address information for identifying failure of the first application or control function. 
     
     
         9 . A computing device comprising:
 one or more interfaces to connect in a mobile network for communication;   one or more processors;   one or more memory elements for storing instructions executable on the one or more processors for operation as a session management function (SMF) for use in a mobile network that maintains access to stored information for a plurality of selected application or control functions, including stored associations between a plurality of address information of the plurality of selected application or control functions and a plurality of capability indications associated with the plurality of selected application or control functions, the instructions being further executable for:
 obtaining a capability indication associated with address information of an application or control function which is stored at the SMF; 
 if the capability indication indicates a first type of capability, invoking a first type of failure detection monitoring procedure for a given one of the plurality of selected application or control functions based on a respective one of the plurality of capability indications; and 
 if the capability indication indicates a second type of capability, invoking a second type of failure detection monitoring procedure for a given one of the plurality of selected application or control functions based on a respective one of the plurality of capability indications. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the mobile network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of selected application or control functions comprises a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF). 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure is for use in the mobile network which interconnects to the IMS network via a Service-Based Interface (SBI) having an enhanced Service-Based Architecture (eSBA) support. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the second type of failure detection monitoring procedure is for use in the mobile network which interconnects to the IMS network via a Diameter receive interface or an Service-Based Interface (SBI) without enhanced Service-Based Architecture (eSBA) support. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of selected application or control functions include a first application or control function and a second application or control function, and the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure is invoked for monitoring the first application or control function of a first network associated with first address information which is stored at the SMF. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein for the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure, the instructions are further executable for:
 receiving a message comprising a notification or response which indicates a failure of the first application or control function of the first network; and   based on receiving the message comprising the notification or response which indicates the failure, initiating a first address list update procedure for a reselection of a first new application or control function.   
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein invoking the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure comprises subscribing to notifications based address information for identifying failure of the first application or control function. 
     
     
         17 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device for operation as a session management function (SMF) in a mobile network that maintains access to stored information for a plurality of selected application or control functions, including stored associations between a plurality of address information of the plurality of selected application or control functions and a plurality of capability indications associated with the plurality of selected application or control functions, cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations including:
 obtaining a capability indication associated with address information of an application or control function which is stored at the SMF;   if the capability indication indicates a first type of capability, invoking a first type of failure detection monitoring procedure for a given one of the plurality of selected application or control functions based on a respective one of the plurality of capability indications; and   if the capability indication indicates a second type of capability, invoking a second type of failure detection monitoring procedure for a given one of the plurality of selected application or control functions based on a respective one of the plurality of capability indications.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the mobile network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of selected application or control functions comprises a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF). 
     
     
         20 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the first type of failure detection monitoring procedure is for use in the mobile network which interconnects to the IMS network via a Service-Based Interface (SBI) having an enhanced Service-Based Architecture (eSBA) support.